Can body maker



Sept. 22, 1953 E. LAxo 05N BODY MAKER Filed Jan. 19, 1951 INVENTOR. i M10 Sept. 22, 1953 E. Axo 2,652,801

CAN BODY MAKER Filed Jan. 19, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR. 4X0

,wrom/ir E. LAXO CAN BODY MAKER sept. `22, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 19, 1951 INVENTOR. ia am:

wm/fr BY Z7 Patented Sept. 22, 1953 assasqi GAN. eonY MAKER Ed Lexa Oakland, Application 4.alnaiiry 19, 1951, seria-1 No. coasts zfolains. (Cif:1131111,aiL

l1 This invention relates to a can bQdy maker. More particularly it relates to means for expanding'the cheeks ofv the forming horn oi a can body maker to form a tight inter-lock of the can body hooks before a seam is formed. In can bodyy makers, an expandable cylindrical horn or anvil member is provided to carry the can body with the usual end hooks of the vbody in interlock'ingl relationship. A bumper member is lprovided 'for bumping the interlocked hooks and attening the sameagainst the horn to form a seam. VIt is important that these hooks be tightly and firmly' interlocked at the instant of impact ,of thebi'imper. Otherwise, a faulty seam will be producdf` v vFor the purpose of tightening the interlocked hooks of a can body, anexpandable type of horn :is in common' use.' A typical expandable horn comprises a pair o f oppositely disposed cheeks of cylindrical outer tmn'tc'iur, and means for expandling the cheeks,r that is to say, for moving them a Slight distance adially'and outwardly from the centrallbn'gitudinal' axis of the'h-orn,- to expand the can body and thereby tightly interlock the hooks. y

Such expander means must operate under severe conditions. The operating speeds of can making machines, owing vto' the competitive conditions with regard t containers in general and cans in particular, mustnecessarilybe very high. Theexpansionof the'ho'rn and .tightening ofthe end hooks must occurin precisely timed relationship to operation of the bumper'. '.Thus, it fis Aimportant that the hooks' betightly interlocked just preceding and Aat the instant' of 'impact of the bumper steel. It will' also be apparent that owing'to the Aspeed ofbper'atio'n and thefrequent, Aforceful,impafct of the bumpersteel on the forming horn, .theexpansion means will. be subjected lt'severeshock, and strain.A

Present expander means of the character and for the purpose described are faulty fromgseveral standpoints Thus, one type `of expander means is operated` by a separate camrmechanism. This, andthe drive therefor, `are 'suchlthat'frequent servicing is necessary, especially on a highl speed bodymaker. Another type `o1? expander means is operated 'fromthe vvfeed bar operating mechanism and is subject'to similardisadvantages.

Itis an' object 'of the present invention to provide an improved type of expander means for can body makers. 'f v.

It is a further object of the invention to provide expander meansffor acan body maker which is capable of operation athigh speeds andrequires lessservicing, repair, and replacement of parts than. expandermeans heretofore in use.

Yet another object ofthe invention is to provide expandermeansof the Acharacter v`rand iorithe purpose describedfwhich issimple `vin its design', readily adjusted, capable of operationat high speed,` easily servicetzl-'and unlikely ntorequire-Irepairs or servicing with lanygrea-t degree of-,fre-

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{Ihese and other objects of the invention will be apparent" from Y the ensuing description-andi the appended claims.

One form of invention is illustrated by way of example theaccompanying-drawings and is described in detailhereinafter.-

In' the drawings:

Figure lisen-end elevation of a body maker suitable for use with the expander means ofthe present invention. v- I Y f f Y Figure 2 isa longitudinal, vertical section through the body maker-of -Figure 1 and-taken along the lineslI-lI thereof. H

Figure 3 is a'section-through the forming. horn taken along the lines III-111 of Figurerland showing the forming cheeks in their normal, contract-ed positiolL Y Y. i ,i 1 Figure 4 is aview similar to that of `ligure 3 but showing the `l'iorn-cheeks in expanded position.,-

`Figure 5 is an end-view asseenfrom theright ofvFigure.- v w.

,Figure 6 is an end view as seen from the right ofiigurefl.- H l Figure'i'is a transverse section taken along the lines/'II--Y`-IIofFi'gurelB,k Y

'jReferring'now' to the drawings and more partioularlyito Figures-l and 12; one Aform of body maker suitable for use with the expander drive 0i' the presentiinvention is there illustratedand is generally designated as *IIL *'lfhis body maker comprises ajforming'horn Il which will beldescribed ,in Adetail hereinafter, and a bumper assembly l2.' MThe bumper assembly comprises -a bumper steel j|`3 Ymounted on across-head [-4 whichis rotatably mounted on a tubularshaftl5 which isgolamped to thenpper end of a connecting rod It. The lower end of the connecting =rod i6 is` rotatably Vmoiintezl' on -an crank assembly I` !1 which ik'ncli'iiiesv a crank" 'shaft`Y I8 suitably 'jour- 'rialed *'intl'ie'f'rame iS '0f' the machine' and a "fhejoperation offene bumper assembly l2 is wellknownand "does" not require ra detailed deseriptiorii herein. *It illustrated in Figure itin 'whicli th'e bumper steel -I3fis` shown in" full lines inifitsldwermevst for"A retracted" posi-tion and`v in broken lines-in its uppermost oi"seam forming position Various for-ms of' 'guide means rnay'be usedfor guiding movement of the yburriper assembly' and 'Orthe 'bumper steeli Thatlspec-ically shown in the drawings is described in detail and is claimed in my copending application, Serial No. 165,617, entitled Can Body Maker, filed June 2, 1950. Very briefly, this guide means includes a guide arm 2| which is xed at its righthand end, as viewed in Figure 1, to the cross head |4 and is rotatably mounted at its other end on a pivot pin 22 carried bya collar 23 which is adjustably clamped to a post 24. The post 24 is xed to the frame of the machine.

Referring now to Figures and 6, a can body 25 is there illustrated, having hooks 26 which are intended to interlock in the manner illustrated for the formation of a side seam.

When the forming horn is in its normally retracted position, as illustrated in Figurel 5, the interlocked hooks will be loosely engaged as there illustrated. When the forming horn has been expanded to the positions shown in Figure 6,' these hooks will be tightly interlocked, as there illustrated, and will be in readiness for impact of the bumper steel I3 for the formation of a side seam.

Referring now more particularly to Figure '1,

it will be seen that the forming horn comprises two oppositely disposed cheeks 21, each having a cylindrical outer contour. These cheeks are separated and spaced apart by a central member or core 28. As illustrated, a steel insert 29 is provided, being located in a recess 29a and which, as shown in Figures 5 and 6, is intended to lie adjacent the interlocked hooks 26 to provide a flat, hard surface to receive the impact of the bumper steel. Spacer members 3U, which are also shown in Figures 3 and 4, are provided on opposite sides of the core 28, and the cheeks 21 are secured thereto, as by means of countersunk stripper bolts 3|. Stripper bolts 32 are also provided, one of which is threaded into one of the spacer members 36 and the other is threaded into the other spacer member 30, as illustrated. The stripper bolts 32 are received in recesses 33 formed in the core 23, and an expansion spring 34 is compressed between the head of each stripper bolt 32 and the bottom of its recess 33. The effect of the expansion springs 34 will be to draw the spacer members 30, and with them the cheeks 21, inwardly toward one another. The springs 34 will, therefore, normally maintain the cheeks in a contracted position as shown in Figure 5. One of the cheeks 21 and the core 28 are cut away to provide a recess 35 for an extractor bar with finger (not shown) for conveying can bodies along the forming horn.

Referring now more particularly to Figures 3 and 4, it will be seen that the core 28 is formed with an axial passage 4| which extends the length thereof and slideably receives an expander pin 42 having a widened portion at its left end as viewed in Figures 3 and 4. A plurality of expander plugs 44, e. g. four in number, are provided each of which is slideably received in a radial passage 45 formed in the core 26. Each of the expander plugs 44 is formed at its inner end with an inclined surface 46 for cooperation with the expander cam as explained hereinafter, and at its outer end each of these plugs bears against a button 41 which is xed to one or the other of the cheeks. The expander pin 42 is formed at its outer or right-hand end, as viewed in Figure 3, with an enlarged head portion 48, and cam bars 49 are mounted on the right-hand end of the expander pin adjacent the head 48. The cam bars 49 are fixed to the expander pin 42 as by means of rivets 50. Each cam bar 49 is formed at its left-hand or inner end, and also near its outer or right-hand end with an inclined cam surface 55.

The mode of operation, apart from the means for operating the expander pin 42, will be apparent from an inspection of Figures 3, 4 and '7. This, when the expander pin 42 is in the extreme right-hand position illustrated in Figure 3, the expander plugs 44 will be free to slide inwardly. The pressure of the expansion springs 34 will draw the cheeks 21 together, thus contracting the forming horn to the position shown in Figure 5. when, however, the expander pin 42 is moved to the left, to the position shown in Figure 4, the cam surfaces will ride up the inclines 46 of the expander plugs 44 and will force them radially and outwardly in opposition to the contractile effect of the springs 34. The cheeks 21 will be expanded so as to assume the position shown in Figure 6. This action will firmly and tightly interlock the hooks 26 of a can body 25. 1t will also be apparent that, upon reciprocation of the expander 42, this process of expansion and contraction of the cheeks will be made to occur as often as desired, depending only upon the speed of reciprocation of the expander pin 42.

Feeding means for feeding the can bodies to and mounting them on the forming horn will, of course, be provided, and any of several known types of feeding mechanism may be employed for this purpose. Illustration and description of such feeding means is unnecessary. For convenience of understanding the operation of the body maker, clamping arms 56 are shown in Figure 1. These arms ser-veto clamp a can body to the forming horn and interlock the end hooks 26, and they may be operated by any suitable v means, e. g., by link means generally designated as 51. Also illustrated is a backup member 58 which is also operated by the link means 51 and is intended to receive the impact of the bumper steel on the can body and forming horn and to transmit the force of impact to the frame of the machine, thereby preventing undue strain on the forming horn and undue vibration thereof during operation of the machine.

Referring now to Figure 2, the expander pin 42 is reciprocated by an expander drive assembly which is generally designated as 68. This assembly comprises a bell crank lever 6l which is rotatably mounted on a pivot pin 52 which, as illustrated, has a squared end to receive a wrench and is eccentrically mounted in a frame bracket 62a. Adjustment of the bell crank lever 6 for a purpose described hereinafter, is readily accomplished by loosening `a, screw 53a which serves to clamp the pin 62 to the frame bracket 62a, turning the pin to make the desired adjustment and then again tightening the screw 63a. The lower arm 63 of the bell crank lever 6| is connected by means of a universal joint 64 to a link 65 which in turn is rotatably connected at 66 to a pin 10 which is journaled in a sleeve 1| which is integral with the connecting rod l5.

The upper arm 12 of the bell crank lever 6| is rotatably connected at its upper end, at 13, to one end of a short link 14, the other end of. which is rotatably connected at 15 to an ear 16 of an expander pin slide member 11. The expander pin slide member 11 is slidable in a frame bracket 16a and is confined by means of a cover 16h and cap screws 16e. The expander pin slide 11 is adjustably vconnected to the left-hand or inner end ofr the expander pin 42 by the means best illustrated in Figures 3 and 4. Referring thereto;

it will be seen that the wide end 43 of the expander pin 42 and the right-hand end of the expander pin slide 11 are recessed at 18 so as to interlock. From an inspection of Figure`2 it will be apparent that the expander pin 42 is slidable, relatively to the slide member 11, in a vertical plane, thus allowing adjustment for a purpose which will be described hereinafter. When suitable adjustment has been made, the expander pin 42 is clamped in adjusted position by means of cap screws 19 and a clamping bracket '80.

The reason for the adjustable connection between the expander pin 42 and the slide member 11 resides inthe fact that, when can bodies of a different diameter are to be operated upon by the machine, a forming horn of different diameter will be employed. Merely by loosening the cap screws 19 and shifting the expander pin upwardly or downwardly, as the case may be, relatively to the slide member 11, suitable adjustment may be made to align the expander pin with the axis of the forming horn. As explained above, the expander 42 is readily clamped in adjusted position by tightening the cap screws 19.

Operation of the machine is as follows: Can bodies are fed to and clamped on the forming horn I I in rapid sequence by any suitable means driven in timed relation to the crankshaft I8, and which may be driven by the crankshaft itself. Operation of the crankshaft will, of course, operate the bumper assembly I2 to hammer and form side seams. Meanwhile, the expander pin 42 will be reciprocated in precisely timed relation to operation of the bumper assembly, to push the expander plugs 44 outwardly and expand the cheeks 21 just preceding and during each instant of impact of the bumper steel I3 with the hooks 26. Thereafter, as the bumper steel I3 recedes, the expander pin 42 will move forwardly to release the expander plugs 44, thereby allowing the springs 34 to contract the chucks 21.

It will thus be apparent that a novel form of can body maker, including expanding means for expanding the forming horn to tightly interlock the can body hooks, has been provided. Such machine and such expander means have numerous advantages. The expander means is driven bythe crank shaft I8 which also drives the bumper assembly. Accordingly the expander means must, of necessity, operate in precisely timed relation to the bumper assembly, including the bumper steel I3. Suitable timing adjustment of the expander means is easily and accurately accomplished merely by loosening the cap screw 63a, turning the eccentric pin 62 one way or the other until proper adjustment has been made, and then tightening the cap screw 63a to clamp bell crank lever 6I in suitably adjusted position.

It will also be apparent, from an inspection of Figures 3 and 4, that there is no necessity for halting motion of the expander drive mechanism except during a brief instant at the end of each stroke. It is an undesirable feature of certain prior expander drive mechanisms, that the actuating means moves to a predetermined position, dwells during impact of the bumper steel, and recommences movement after a seam has been formed. In the machine of this invention, the expander pin continues movement during impact of the bumper steel when the machine is subjected to its greatest strain, and it dwells only at periods between impacts of the bumper steel.

It will be apparent upon reflection that, in a very rapidly operating can body making machine, if the design of the expander mechanism is such that it must be brought to one state, held there during the instant of impact, and then moved again, timing and other difficulties will develop which require frequent servicing, repairs and replacements. These and other difficulties are avoided or lessened by the machine of this invention.

I claim:

1. A can body maker comprising an expandable forming horn including cheeks mounted for radial movement to expand and contract the diameter of the horn, resilient means urging said cheeks to contracted position, a bumper assembly for bumping interlocked hooks of a can body mounted on the horn to form a side seam, crank means including a crankshaft and a connecting rod connecting the crankshaft with the bumper assembly to operate the latter, expander plugs mounted within the horn for reciprocating movement radially of the horn to expand the cheeks during outward movement and allow contraction thereof upon inward movement of the plugs, expander pin mounted co-axially of the horn for reciprocating movement, cam means mounted on said expander pin for operating said expander plugs to force the latter radially and outwardly during one stroke and to allow retraction thereof upon the return stroke, and means for operating said expander pin comprising a slide member mounted for reciprocating movement longitudinally of the horn, means -connecting one end of said expander pin to one end of said slide member, said connecting means allowing adjustment of the expander pin in a vertical plane to accommodate horns of diierent diameters, a bell crank lever, a pivot member mounting said lever, said pivot member being eccentrically mounted for timing adjustment of said lever, and link means connecting one arm of said bell crank lever with said slide member and the other arm thereof with said connecting rod.

2. In a can body maker of the type comprising a fixed frame, a radially expandable forming horn for holding a can body, an expander pin slidable axially within the horn to expand and retract the horn and a bumper for bumping the interlocked hooks of a canv body on the horn to form a side seam, the improvement which comprises a crankshaft, a connecting rod operatively connecting the crankshaft and the bumper for operating the latter to form side seams, an expander pin slide slidable in the frame and xed to the expander pin, a bell crank lever having an adjustable fulcrum on the frame for adjustment of the stroke of said slide and expander pin; means positively connecting one arm of the bell crank lever with the slide and means positively connecting the other arm of the bell crank lever with the connecting rod, said bell crank lever and connecting means being such as to impart positive reciprocating motion to said slide and expander pin in timed relation to operation of the bumper and with a stroke which is a small fraction of a cam body length.

ED LAXO.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,625,091 Peters Apr. 19, 1927 1,750,550 Troyer Mar. 11, 1930 2,429,169 Pearson Oct. 14. 1947 

